The Foiled Plan (War of Sins Book 2)

I don’t know how much time I spend staring at her. With her silken locks draped over my chest, her pert little nose in the air and her plump lips lightly parted, she looks too fucking sexy. Certainly too much for me to bear to leave the bed yet.

She told me she loves me.

God, but what did I do to deserve it?

I would have never imagined earning her love anytime soon. But now that I have it? A deep sense of satisfaction blooms in my chest, but with it, a wave of uneasiness hits me too.

I do return her feelings. Hell, I fucking adore her.

She’s been the most unexpected gift that life has thrown my way, and I don’t think I’ve ever been as happy as with her these past weeks. She’s my very own ray of sunshine, and I’d vowed to myself that I would protect and cherish her at all costs.

Then why can’t I open my damned mouth and tell her I love her, too?

The entire night, while my pretty girl’s been sleeping peacefully, I’ve been twisting and turning, battling with myself and unable to find a moment of peace.

I love her, yet what I feel for her is so much more than that, so I feel reluctant to say the words out loud knowing I’ve said them before…

As I laid awake and ruminated over everything, I came to the conclusion that because I’ve used the words with Lucero before, I couldn’t use them again with Noelle. It wouldn’t feel right. It also wouldn’t quantify my feelings, and I know that what I felt for Lucero was different than what I feel for Noelle.

It’s absurd.

Entirely ridiculous.

People love more than once in their lifetimes, so it’s silly to even think that the word love cannot be used more than once.

Yet no matter how much I try to rationalize it, I can’t.

There is this need inside of me to differentiate and compartmentalize my feelings for Noelle and Lucero—keep them separate from each other.

Noelle shifts in her sleep, interrupting me from my thoughts. One glance at her, though, and my smile widens.

She tips her head up to peer at me, a silly grin on her face.

‘Morning,’ she whispers in my ear.

‘Morning,’ I lay a gentle kiss on her nose. ‘How are you feeling?’

‘Good,’ she nods. ‘Very good,’ she bats her lashes at me. ‘I was wondering…’ She bites her lip as she traces a heart with her finger on my chest. ‘Would you like to shower together?’

Not one to miss an opportunity, I simply swoop her in my arms, the blanket falling from our bodies and leaving us naked. Taking her to the bathroom, I place her in the shower and proceed to spoil her, leisurely washing her body and her hair, making sure to be particularly attentive to that sweet spot between her legs.

She returns the favor, and we have a good laugh when she becomes a little shy as she gets to my lower region, her dainty hands exploring my hard cock.

‘You’re such a tease,’ I breathe out. She works her hand up and down, her touch so fucking maddening I have to rest my back against the stall for support as I feel myself coming.

‘You secretly love it,’ she winks at me before dropping to her knees and cleaning me up.

After we’re both done, I wrap her in a towel, drying her up and placing her on the bed so I can apply lotion to her legs.

On my knees, I run my fingers along the length of her calves, slowly massaging the moisture into her skin.

As I’m working on her body, she threads her hands through my hair, gently combing it.

‘Can you forgive me for this?’ One finger stills on the scar at the start of my hairline. She traces the ridge of it, her touch soft and healing.

‘There’s nothing to forgive,’ I raise my eyes to hers. ‘You did what you had to in order to survive. How can I blame you for that when you’re here now? With me?’

It seems surreal that I’m able to let go of everything with those words. I’d spent so much time hating her—hating the glimpses I’d gotten of her at the hacienda—because in my mind, I’d built her up to be some type of unfeeling villain.

Retrospectively, though, I can recognize why I’d been so quick to condemn her. From the first moment I’d seen her, I’d thought her to be the most beautiful woman I’d ever laid my eyes on. And against everything inside of me telling me not to, I had been attracted to her.

There had been one decisive moment, before anything had happened, when our gazes had met. Maybe my memory is distorted, but in my mind that moment had stretched across time, her gaze on mine; mine on hers. Time had stood still as my soul had recognized something in her—something priceless.

But the spell had soon broken, and when she’d hurled the plate at me, her expression changing to one of smug satisfaction as she’d watched the blood pour down my face, she’d become dead to me. She’d become just like everyone else in my life—a tormentor.

My initial reaction to her had been so strong, it stands to reason that my subsequent hate would be even stronger.

‘I may not remember what happened,’ she purses her lips, ‘but know that I am sorry, Raf,’ she says as she leans forward, placing her lips over the scar in the sweetest kiss. She lingers, and I find myself unable to break the spell.

‘I love you,’ she says the words again and I freeze.

She doesn’t notice as she continues to pepper kisses all over my face. Reaching my lips she draws back a little, her eyes on me.

Framing her face with my palms, I hold her still.

‘I adore you, Noelle. You’re my heart,’ I tell her sincerely. A look of pure pleasure appears on her face, and I know I’ve said the right words.

Better yet, they feel right.

After we dress up, Noelle goes to her music room to continue working on her piece while I head to Cisco’s office, ready to get in contact with Carlos and the guys again.

To my great surprise, however, I bump into Cisco in the hallway.

‘I didn’t expect to see you here,’ I raise a brow at him.

‘Good of you to make yourself at home,’ he adds drily as he takes his coat off, heading straight for the office.

‘Right, and to what do I owe this pleasure?’

Yuyu is at the very end of her pregnancy, and it’s unlike Cisco to leave her side even for one second.

‘The concert is next week. We need to go over the details once more to make sure everything is perfect,’ Cisco says as he goes straight for his drink cabinet.

‘Yeah, that’s not going to happen,’ I remain in the doorway, crossing my arms over my chest. ‘I’m not going to put Noelle in danger, especially knowing how unhinged my brother is,’ I add confidently. ‘The plan is off.’

Cisco’s eyes flash at me, but he doesn’t reply for a moment. He merely brings his glass to his lips, taking a sip.

‘And I told you to keep your self-righteousness to yourself. The plan is moving forward.’ His tone is unyielding. ‘Now more than ever,’ he mutters.

‘No,’ I state staunchly. ‘I’m not taking any risks with Noelle’s safety. Now or ever,’ I look him straight in the eye so he can see I’m not going to budge on this issue.

‘Raf, Raf,’ the corner of his mouth curls in derision. ‘Weren’t you the one who came to me with the suggestion? Use my sister to stick it to your brother?’ He smiles as he swirls the liquid amber in his glass.

‘That was before. Things have changed.’

‘Let me tell you what’s changed, Raf,’ he slams his glass on the table. ‘That little shit of your brother dared to go after my wife. I don’t have many hard limits. But the moment anyone goes after my wife or my children, all bets are off.’

The anger is palpable as it rolls off him, but I don’t let it intimidate me. After all, we’re all fighting for someone. He has his reasons that propel him forward, and I have mine.

One in particular.

‘Surprised I’m not hearing anything about your sister. Or wait, she doesn’t matter, does she?’

His nostrils flare, but he keeps himself in check.

‘Of course my sister matters. To a certain extent. But the plan is in motion, and she is the piece de resistance,’ he gives a fake smile. ‘You offered her up, now hold up your part of the bargain.’

‘And I’m saying no and that is final. I won’t have Noelle anywhere near my brother. And I think it’s high time I made a few things clear, Cisco. Maybe before she was under your guardianship, but now she is my wife. And that means you don’t get a say in what she does, or doesn’t.’

His gaze holds mine for a moment before he chuckles.

‘Don’t tell me she got her claws in you.’

‘Your sister doesn’t have any claws and you damn well know it. I don’t think there’s anyone more innocent or blameless than Noelle,’ I grit my teeth, his blasé attitude rubbing me the wrong way.

‘Sure,’ he shakes his head, amused. ‘Whatever you say, lover boy. But the show will go on.’

I take a deep breath, knowing I must approach this with a clear head. Though seeing Cisco care so little for his sister makes me so fucking mad I can barely control myself.

‘Maybe we should reconsider our partnership,’ I raise my chin as I casually lean back against the wall.

‘Wow. I have to say I didn’t think you had it in you, Raf. So what, you’re going to take my sister and you’re going to live happily ever after chasing rainbows?’ He laughs. ‘Might I remind you that you’re nothing without my protection. The moment you leave this house you have a target on your back. Are you sure you want to risk my sister like that?’ A smile threatens to overtake his face as he thinks he has me backed into a corner.

‘I’ll take the risk,’ I shrug. ‘I’ll just trust myself to keep her safe.’

After all, isn’t it better for her to be away from her family of lunatics? My experience of my own family and now witnessing how things are done with DeVille don’t give me much confidence about this family business, but I know that as long as Noelle and I are together we can surpass everything that comes our way.

‘We’ll go pack,’ I tell him in a stern tone so he realizes I’m not playing around.

Just at that moment, though, Noelle appears in the doorway, frowning as she looks between Cisco and me.

‘Noelle, go pack, we’re leaving.’

‘Noelle, what a surprise, do come in,’ Cisco calls her over.

Her eyes on me, she takes a tentative step inside.

‘What’s happening?’ She asks, confused.

‘Your husband thinks it’s wise to leave the house and my protection,’ Cisco starts, a cunning smile playing at his lips.

‘Why?’

‘Noelle, let’s go.’

‘Why don’t we let her make her own mind, Raf? Weren’t you preaching that until now?’ he chuckles. ‘Your husband here had a marvelous idea to use you as bait to lure his brother out from hiding.’

‘It was before.’ I feel compelled to add. ‘Before I knew…’

She blinks, an unsettled look on her face as she asks Cisco to tell her more about the plan.

And as I listen to him list all of the things we’d planned—things we’d never talked to her about—I feel like the worst kind of scoundrel.

The best I can hope is that she won’t hold it against me. That she will realize this was before my feelings for her changed—before everything.

‘I see,’ is all she says as she nods thoughtfully.

‘Noelle…’

‘I’ll do it,’ she declares.

My eyes widen in shock, while Cisco smiles in his glass.

‘What did you say?’

‘I’ll do it,’ she turns to me. ‘This is your chance to get your brother. Make him pay for everything that he did to you,’ she grabs my hand, holding it to her chest. ‘I know how important this is to you and if I can help with anything,’ she gives me a tight smile. ‘I want to help.’

‘No. Absolutely not, Noelle. I don’t want you anywhere near that psychopath. He’s dangerous—too dangerous. And I’m not going to risk you like that.’

‘But you’ll be there,’ she argues. ‘You’ll all be there,’ she nods to her brother. ‘I know you won’t let anything happen to me just like I know how much you need to close that chapter from your life.’

Then, turning to her brother, she proclaims loudly.

‘I’m in, so tell me everything.’

I look at her in wonder, unable to believe she’d do something like that for me—put herself in danger just so I can accomplish my stupid revenge.

‘You matter more to me than getting my brother,’ I lean in to whisper, wanting her to reconsider her stance.

‘And you matter so much to me, Raf, that I want you to accomplish your goal. Get your revenge. Please let me do this for you,’ her hand is on my face as she cups my cheek. ‘Together. Let’s do this together.’

The strength behind her gaze mesmerizes me, and in spite of all my reservations, I find myself nodding.

‘I want you to bear one thing in mind, Noelle,’ I tell her later when Cisco’s gone.

‘If it comes down to choosing between you and my brother, I’ll always choose you.’